Dabi's POV
There are sometimes when the life of villainy sucks. This is one of those times. I sat in my dusty one bedroom apartment, on a busted couch looking intently at the small fuzzy screened television that sat upon the floor in front of me.
I watched the faceless crowds viewing the UA sports festival. Their loud cheers echoing through the hollow room. I wanted to see the festival live, but security was tight enough before the USJ attack, never mind now. What's more I'm still a wanted man. A burnt zombie showing up at UA to watch future heroes compete didn't sound like a good idea.
As much as I hated this whole hero society, the UA festival brought back fond memories. I would watch it every year with Kimi and Shoto. His eyes would be as large as saucers as he watched the students display their quirks. We would always end up watching it at Kimi's house, where we didn't have to worry about my 'father' making rude comments about Kimi. That bastard never liked her, he always said she was too weak for me and he could arrange a more suitable match. Yeah, because you're such an expert on love old man.
I watched the crowd go wild as class 1A entered the stadium and a familiar red and white head stood out from the students. Damn, he has grown up so fast. Shoto marched forward ignoring the cheering crowd with a distant look of determination in his heterochromatic eyes. I swallow thickly, recognising the look immediately. It was the look of determination I had given everyday in that damn training programme. I just hope he has the sense to turn out better than I did.
The camera panned across the stadium and I felt my heart leap when I caught a glimpse of Kimi in the medic stands, watching on with an excited grin. I felt myself smile in response. She always loved the sports festival, even if she didn't have any idea who the heroes presenting the awards were. She was just happy to see Shoto happy. The sight of Kimi also made me nervous. I plan on stopping her on her way home today to tell her she has nothing to worry about and I have no intention of pursuing her following the casual murder that took place outside her apartment. Thoughts of her reactions plagued my mind but I tried to push them out, knowing they'd just convince me to abandon the plan.
Regardless, I found myself pleading to the powers the be that the camera would pan across to her throughout the opening formalities. However, as soon as the first event started I became engrossed.
Shoto used ice to stick his opponents to the ground as he took the lead. I didn't know what I was expecting but seeing my little brother act so ruthlessly made me both mad and proud. I was enraged thinking that our old man had shaped my sweet little brother into the ruthless boy on the screen. But at the same time, he really had advanced and if I had his quirk I probably would have done the same thing.
"Show them what you're made of Sho." I muttered to myself as the first task progressed. I found myself standing from the beat up couch and squatting down in front of the television, occasionally shouting words of encouragement to thin air.
"Come on Sho! Just a little further, you got this buddy!" I shout, my face inches from the screen. He was so close. The finishing line a few meters ahead. But out of no where some green haired kid flew past him on a scrap piece of metal.
"No! Who the hell are you?! Come on Sho!" I bellow making my neighbour below shout at me to be quiet, not that I cared. My fists were clenched tightly as I watched Shoto slowly closing the gap, but not fast enough. The green haired kid came first but Sho was a close second, followed by some angry blond kid.
I relaxed slightly as a commercial break began to play. Damn. He isn't anything like how I remember him. Of course I had caught a glimpse of him now and again. I always tried to keep tabs on all my siblings, but I'd never see him use his quirk like this. I'd never seen him look so powerful ... or so lost.
He may not have had the happiest of childhoods, but the distant look in his eye, his ruthless tactics, he was a shell of the lively kid I knew growing up. Maybe I wasn't the only Todoroki son that had changed.
The ad break ended and the second task was beginning. To be honest I had little understanding of what was going on. My brother was on the shoulders of some of his class mates but I still found myself scanning the crowd to try and see Kimi, though she looked to be absent.
So they just have to get the other groups points without the one on top touching the ground? Seems simple enough but that blond kid looks about ready to kill someone. Is he sure he's on the right side?
Although Sho wasn't off to the best start, it quickly turned around when he managed to snag that green haired kids points. I don't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't his leadership skills. He appeared so distant but was able to galvanise his team and play to their strengths. He really has grown up. I can't help but regret missing seeing it for myself. I felt my eyes burn with unshed tears. I always got like this when I thought of my brothers or sister too much. I'm a villain, I shouldn't get so emotional about this stuff, but watching my baby brother make it to the final round of the UA sports festival made me well up with both pride and guilt.
I focused back on the television and the sea of students battling one another made my mind wander. Student after student, their names merging together, my mind focused solely on Shoto every time he battled and overcame his opponent.
"Todoroki Shoto verses Midoriya Izuku!" The loud mouth presenter exclaimed through the speaker. My ears perked up at the sound of my brother's name.
Shot after shot I watched Shoto break the kids fingers, their lips moving, clearly having a deep discussion, the topic of which neither I nor the rest of the onlookers could decipher. My fists were clenched and the scar creased skin of my knees pushed painfully against the rough exposed floorboards as I leaned in closer to the screen, as though if I were close enough I could make out some of their words.
Within seconds the screen was engulfed in bright orange flames and I shrank back slightly. I was certainly not expecting it and from the faint gasps of the on screen audience I could tell they were not either. As Shoto's fire dimmed, it was replaced by thick black smoke that cloaked the camera obscuring the arena altogether.
The commentator continued to ask if anyone could see anything in that annoyingly loud voice as the smoke began to clear. I felt my breathing hitch as the body of the green haired boy lay crumpled on the ground, my brother, although standing, didn't look much better. However, he was announced the winner, though his clothes were badly burnt and his skin seemed to be glistening with over exertion.
I lent back against the ground, unclutching my fists and laying them flat against the cool rough floorboards. My little brother is stronger than I thought. Far stronger than I was at his age that's for sure. But the cold look that I had seen from him earlier had faded and was replaced by a calmer more assured look after his fight with the green haired kid. He almost looked like the little boy I remembered and not the hard shell masquerading as my brother from the earlier events.
I watched him fight again, although he refrained from using his fire. Which I couldn't help but smile at, knowing how pissed the old man would be. Unfortunately, he didn't win though. That kid with the explosion quirk was a beast and after a long period of attacks, the dust settled leaving my little brother unconscious amongst the rumble and broken cement.
I was confused and conflicted. He didn't use his fire side even though he saw how effective it was on the green haired kid. He didn't win but he didn't give it his all either. As confused as I was, I was more so concerned. He looked so helpless. So small, amongst the dust and rumble. The desire to run to him and pick him up overwhelmed me. I wanted nothing more than to reach through the screen and cradle him in my arms the way I would when he was little. I wanted to make sure he was safe. But I couldn't and I never would be able to again.
Swallowing thickly I watched the rest of the festival play out, not really paying attention, knowing that my brother was in second place. By the time the medal ceremony commenced I couldn't help but smile as Shoto was given his medal by none other than All Might. He hugged Shoto in an awkward fashion and I snorted out a laugh. This was a dream of little Shoto, to meet All Might but he looked so damn awkward now! I chuckled and watched the restrained blond kid bite the medal between his teeth as he thrashed like a wild animal but focused more on my brother and Kimi, who I could see standing in the background smiling proudly at Shoto.
Applause rang out and the closing music began to play as further commentators gave their opinions and I found myself rising from the floor and grabbing my coat. I didn't bother turning off the television, feeling myself move to the door like a phantom. I know what I have to do now. No more waiting. I have to see my girl.